Chapter 5
“Legolas!”
Haldir called out to his friend, but the Prince ignored him
and kept running. Haldir cursed and ran after him. “Ai
Valar, why me?” he sighed as he tried to catch up.
Legolas
ran until even elven endurance failed him. Only then did he
stop and allow Haldir to finally catch up. As the March Warden
neared he could see the distress on his friend’s face.
“Legolas, what’s going on?” He demanded. “Your
strange behaviour is really starting to scare me.” Legolas
could not meet Haldir’s gaze.
“I
heard him.” He said quietly. “I heard Estel calling.
Something is terribly wrong in Middle-Earth, Haldir. I have
to know what it is. I’m going to the city, to beg an audience
with the Valar.” Haldir looked at him carefully.
“Do
you think they’ll speak with you?” He asked the
Prince. Legolas looked at him with a look of total despair.
“I
hope so Haldir. Because if they don’t, I fear I shall
lose any sanity that I have left.” He looked questioningly
at the other elf. “Will you come with me?” Haldir
smiled.
“Aye
my friend, I will come with you, if only to prevent you from
getting yourself into more trouble!” Legolas smiled.
“Thank
you. I am glad you are here Haldir.” The Lorien elf smiled.
“You
are welcome. But please, slow down. At this rate we’ll
kill ourselves!” He sighed. “Again.”
Aragorn
sat by Arwen’s bedside. He had tended to her wounds and
made her comfortable in bed. Her back was wrapped in soft linen
bandages and her broken bones had been put in splints. He had
eventually managed to remove the black substance over her eyes,
though it had been a long and difficult task. Once removed,
some of the damage had become apparent. The skin underneath
was horribly inflamed and had turned an unpleasant shade of
purple. He had gently rubbed a soothing cream on the damaged
skin, but until the swelling went down, he had wrapped a bandage
over her eyes. It would be some time before he would know if
her sight had been impaired or lost. She had yet to regain consciousness,
but had cried out in agony as Aragorn had tried to heal the
terrible injuries. Eventually, he’d drugged her to ease
her pain.
If
he was honest, he didn’t know how he’d managed to
treat her. Every wound he saw seemed to tear out a piece of
his heart. He knew that she was not yet out of danger, the wounds
were grievous and her will weak. Holding her uninjured hand
in his own, he spoke to her softly in the Grey Tongue. Silent
tears ran down his face as he begged her not to give up the
fight. He had already lost his best friend, if Arwen died it
would destroy him.
For
two days he remained at her side, tending to her wounds and
whispering words of life in her ear. Sometimes he sang to her
and although he did not have the high sweet voice of the elves,
the elven melodies seemed to soothe the injured Queen.
It was as he finished an ancient ballad that he heard her start
to stir. “Arwen?” He spoke her name urgently. She
moaned softly in pain. “Come on Arwen.” He pleaded.
“Come back to me.” Her hand moved slightly in his
and she moved her tongue to moisten her parched lips.
“Estel?”
She whispered.
“I’m
here love.” He soothed, holding her hand a little tighter.
“It’s okay, you’re safe now.”
She tried to open her eyes and found that she could not. “Where
am I?!” She cried, beginning to panic. “I can’t
see! Estel, I can’t see!”
He
leaned over and gently kissed her lips. “I know. Your
eyes were hurt, I bandaged them. Please love, try to relax.
Everything will be alright.” Yet even as he spoke the
words, he felt a pain deep in his heart. He didn’t know
if she would fully recover, but he couldn’t bring himself
to tell her just yet. His words seemed to calm her though, for
she settled back against the soft pillows.
Aragorn
found himself feeling relieved that she couldn’t see him
just then; he was shaking with strain of trying not to cry at
the pitiful state of his wife. He sank his head into his free
hand. He felt so very alone.
~It
grinned. The she-elf had lived, but that did not matter. It
had achieved what it set out to do; now there was no stopping
it. Soon, the time would come to reveal itself to the world.~
Legolas
stood in front of the great tower in tower in the centre of
the Silver City. This was a sacred tower, for at the very top
was a room where those wishing to speak with the Valar could
call upon them. There was no guarantee of an answer, but the
Valar were not unkind, if the reason for calling on them was
genuine, they would come. Holding his head high in determination,
he pushed open the door and went inside. Haldir followed close
behind him and together they climbed the one thousand steps
to the top.
There was no door at the top, instead the two elves walked through
a high archway made of white stone. Silver stars were carved
into it and seemed to possess a life of their own. Along the
edges of the arch were inscriptions in elvish, proclaiming the
tower as the gateway to the Valar. The curved walls were decorated
with silver and gold paintings of the earliest days of Valinor,
when the two trees still lived and gave light and all were at
peace. The domed ceiling was painted with a giant sunburst,
the golden edges merging into the paintings on the walls. The
rest of the room was bare, save for a circular stone dais in
the centre. It stood exactly a metre high and was made in the
image of a great tree trunk. It was completely white. In front
of it lay a small cushion of white satin, embroidered with gold
writings.
Legolas
moved and knelt on the cushion. He cupped his hands in front
of him and raised his eyes to the top of the dais. Then he began
to speak.
“Great
Valar, those who created all things, I beg of you to hear me!
I humbly request to speak with you; my heart is greatly troubled
and speaks of terrible evil in Middle-Earth. Please, hear my
plea.” Bowing his head, he fell silent as he and Haldir
waited hopefully for a response.
It
was barely perceptible at first. A pale glow around the dais.
Then, as Legolas and Haldir watched, it began to get stronger
and stronger until the room was filled with the light. It washed
over the two elves, filling them with comfortable warmth. It
pulsed for a moment and then receded, until it was hovering
over the dais. With a bright flash the light vanished and took
on the form of a beautiful Elven-Woman.
“Elbereth.”
Breathed Legolas, and a split second later, he realised that
he had spoken literally. For it was none other than the Queen
of the Stars standing before him. Legolas placed his hand on
his heart and averted his gaze. Behind him, Haldir went to his
knees. One way or another, Legolas’ future was about to
be decided.
The
horse galloped across the open plains on the way to Gondor,
It’s rider clinging to the flowing mane with a death-grip.
It was a rare sight indeed to see a dwarf on horseback, but
then Gimli was a very unusual dwarf. Taught to ride by none
other than Legolas, he had practised a lot in the past twelve
years and was now a competent rider. He was glad of the skill
too; he would never have got to Gondor this fast on foot. Still,
he prayed he was not too late. Word had reached him two days
ago of the Queen’s ordeal and he had left for Gondor at
once. His heart was heavy; this would be a terrible blow to
Aragorn. He had only just made his peace with Legolas’
death. Gimli prayed both Aragorn and Arwen were strong enough
to survive this new pain.
He
rode into the white city and directly to the palace. The guards
on duty recognised him and did not question his entrance.
Having
handed his horse to a young stable-hand, he headed to the King’s
private rooms.
A
soft knock on the door roused Aragorn from the light sleep he’d
fallen into. “Come in.” He answered softly, moving
to see whom the newcomer was. His eyes opened wide when he saw
the dwarf.
“Gimli?!
What are you doing here?” He asked in surprise. The dwarf
sighed.
“Why
do you think I’m here? I came as soon as I heard.”
He looked sadly at the King. “How is she?”
Unable
to speak, Aragorn led Gimli to the bed where Arwen lay sleeping.
He heard his short friend suck in a sharp breath as he saw the
state of the elf-maiden.
“Oh
Gods, Aragorn, I’m so sorry.” He said in a voice
no more than a whisper. He hated to ask the next question, but
he had to know. “Will she live?”
Aragorn’s
voice shook as he answered. “I don’t know. She’s
so weak. Even if she does – her eyes were badly damaged.
I don’t know if I can save her sight!” He turned
his pain-filled eyes to the dwarf. “If she is blind she
may not want to live. She’ll fade….” He trailed
off. His emotions were yet again threatening to get the best
of him. Suddenly, he felt two arms wrap themselves around his
waist. The King looked down and was shocked to find the gruff
dwarf pulling him into a comforting hug.
“Gimli…”
Aragorn started, but the dwarf shook his head, not allowing
the human to speak.
“Have
faith Aragorn.” Gimli told him. “Remember, As long
as we have hope, everything will come right in the end.”
He smiled slightly and looked the King in the eyes. “Isn’t
that what Legolas always used to say?”
Aragorn
looked at Gimli for a moment before bending down and returning
the hug. Gimli was right, Legolas had often said that. It was
a play on his Elven name and something the elf had truly believed.
It eased his heart a little to be reminded of it. Still, it
was not enough to erase the pain he felt. His heart was full
of hopeless despair and not even the memory of his greatest
friend could chase it away.
Breaking
away from Gimli, he turned his eyes to the stars, just rising
in the dusky sky. “Oh, Elbereth. Send me a light, help
me find my way. I am lost.”
Elbereth
looked down at the kneeling elven prince. “Look into my
eyes, Legolas Thranduilion.” She commanded gently. When
she spoke, it was as if the stars echoed every word, and sent
the beautiful song to the far reaches of the world.
Legolas
slowly moved his head to meet the gaze of the revered Valar.
The stars sparkled in her eyes emanating a kindness that instantly
put the prince at ease. She smiled softly, lighting up the room.
“Your heart is aching, son of Thranduil.” She said.
“You still feel the call of the ones you left behind.”
Legolas nodded.
“Yes,
My Lady. I feel as if I have left something important undone,
though I do not know what.” Elbereth regarded Legolas
thoughtfully. It was rare for an elf to feel the pain of Middle-Earth
once they were in Valinor. She knew though, that this elf had
spent many years among mortals, it had no doubt strengthened
his connection to the lands there.
“You
have found no peace in our lands?” She asked gently. Legolas
offered the Valar a small smile.
“Valinor
is more beautiful than I had ever dreamed of, but my heart seeks
another beauty. The beauty of true friendship and total belonging.”
His confidence was growing and his eyes did not waver from the
Star Queen’s face.
“You
wish to go back.” Elbereth stated.
“With
all my heart.” Legolas replied. The great Queen looked
sadly at the elf.
“The
power of the Valar is not what it once was.” She told
him. “No longer can we recreate that which has been destroyed.
You have no body in that world, Prince of Mirkwood.” Legolas’
head dropped. It was hopeless then.
Elbereth
saw his despair, and in the distance, heard another pained cry.
There was so much pain in the world outside of Valinor, she
thought sadly. She wished to ease it, along with the pain of
the elf in front of her. However, she knew that the only option
was dangerous for the elf’s soul, should something go
awry, he would be lost to them forever. Still, she felt she
had to give him the option.
“There
is one way, however.” Legolas’ head shot up as new
hope filled him.
“Yes my lady?” He asked, the hope filling his voice.
“Your
soul can return to Middle-Earth, but it could not take a physical
form. You would be as the wind, always there yet never seen.”
She fell silent as the prince took in her words.
“No
physical form.” Suddenly, Legolas knew exactly what that
meant.
“I’d
be a ghost.” He said aloud, slightly shocked.
“Yes.”
Replied Elbereth. “You would have no substance, you could
touch nothing. I know not how you would do that which you feel
is undone, but it is all I can offer.” Legolas paused
only for a moment. It would be difficult yes, but it could not
be worse than the pain in his heart. Slowly, he rose to his
feet. He stood tall and proud before the Valar.
“If that is the only way I can return, then so be it.
I accept your offer.”
END
CHAPTER 5
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